After Suishi spoke, the murmurs quickly faded.
Indeed, killing a jinchuriki would only delay the apocalypse momentarily. In the end, it would only strengthen Akatsuki's momentum.
Obito's eyes flickered. He actually had an idea.
Let Madara seal one of the jinchuriki in ice, lock it away in his space forever, then blind him or even remove his eyes for Madara to keep.
Without the "key" to open his space, Akatsuki's plan of capturing the bijuu would never succeed!
However, Obito knew others would never trust him.
If he voiced this idea, they would think he's intentionally offering his head on a platter!
Of course, there was another point—Obito knew Madara would never agree to this!
Seeing everyone's worried expressions, A scoffed, "What's there to fear? The souls summoned through [Impure World Reincarnation] can only remain in this world temporarily, and once they return to the Underworld, they cannot be summoned again so soon… Therefore, right now we hold the advantage. The ones who should be anxious are Akatsuki!"
"That's right," Rasa said solemnly, "we only need to hold out these few days! However, Akatsuki surely realizes this as well. In the coming days, we'll face their fiercest attacks!"
A chill ran through the group. Nothing was more terrifying than a suicide bomber when facing enemies with Immortal Bodies!
The ninja resurrected through [Impure World Reincarnation] were already formidable warriors. Add suicide attacks into the mix, and it would be extremely difficult to handle!
"With the power Akatsuki currently possesses, no single ninja village can stand against them. We have no choice—we must unite!" Onoki looked around at everyone, emphasizing, "Not the kind of alliance where we simply assist each other, but a true unification—gathering all forces from every ninja village into one place, combining all our resources!"
Many nodded seriously. Any clear-eyed person could see that unification was the trend of the times!
The big question was—where the hell were they supposed to unify?
Though he already knew the answer, Rasa feigned confusion as he asked, "Where should we gather?"
Onoki tapped the table. "Judging from the map, it should be Konoha, which occupies the center of shinobi no sekai…"
Before he could finish, a mocking voice cut in from the side—"Tsuchikage, you don't seem very sincere with that suggestion, do you?"
Naturally, Onoki had no pleasant expression for this traitor who once "betrayed" Iwagakure—"What do you mean I'm insincere?"
Mui, the former Iwa leader, wagged his finger. "We're all seeking shelter under Konoha's protection. Our price is complete integration into Konoha. How come you people only need to shout slogans?"
"Keep in mind, Akatsuki is targeting Cloud and Rock next. Even we, who've been caught in the crossfire, know that unity is the only way forward. Yet you, the ones primarily under attack, haven't even made a gesture of commitment?"
Onoki's face darkened. Relocating the entire village to Konoha had been his decision even before arriving at the summit. He'd even crushed any opposition back home.
But now, being preempted by Kusagakure and Hoshigakure—who were inflating their bargaining power—was extremely frustrating!
Onoki took a deep breath and declared loudly, "I'm not making a request, but speaking for the greater good. If Han and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki are captured, it will be a catastrophe for humanity itself!"
"No matter how eloquently you speak, it doesn't change the fact that we're essentially asking Konoha for help!" Mui shook his head. "Do you really believe that such a vague slogan will convince Konoha to offer support?"
"Those of us who can see the big picture are rare indeed. Most people only focus on the hatred between villages! Under these circumstances, forced unity will only trigger the accumulated conflicts between the villages!"
"Therefore, we shouldn't expect ordinary people to understand the big picture. We should be the ones to conform to it. And the big picture we should understand is that we all need to become one family!"
Onoki frowned deeply. Have the younger generation become this difficult to handle? Actually using sophistry to refute the moral high ground he had always used so effectively!
Hearing this, those smaller villages that previously shouted for merger burst into loud voices.
"I think Leader Mui makes a good point. Why should certain people get special treatment?"
"If we become one family, we can help and understand each other!"
They were also worried their own villagers might question the merger. After all, not everyone possessed their level of vision.
But it would be different if they dragged Iwagakure, or even the other Four Great Ninja Villages, into this.
The villagers would simply believe they'd successfully fought for equal treatment with the Four Great Villages!
As they continued fanning the flames, representatives from the other Three Great Villages also furrowed their brows.
Though they were friendly toward Seiki, they firmly refused to give up their village independence entirely!
Just when the situation seemed about to spiral out of control, Seiki slightly shook his head. "There's no need to continue discussing merging with Konoha! A family built from enemies would only bring discomfort!"
Setting this tone, Seiki continued, "However, Tsuchikage and Second do have valid points. We must unite, but we need to regulate inter-village conflicts carefully and consider everyone's feelings!"
"Therefore, my proposal is to establish a Ninja Alliance that encompasses the entire shinobi world!"
"A Ninja Alliance?" Onoki slightly frowned. "How is that different from what they previously suggested?"
"The difference is that previously Konoha would have dominated, absorbing all villages into Konoha to truly become one family!" Seiki paused and continued explaining, "In the Ninja Alliance model, each village maintains its independence and equality, with only a central alliance government mediating relations—like neighbors and a neighborhood association!"
Many showed growing interest, except Raikage who looked conflicted. "Then we won't be able to... cough, I mean, what if villages still have conflicts? Can we wage wars then?"
"Certainly not. We should resolve conflicts through mediation. Why wage wars at all?" Seiki shook his head. "The Ninja Alliance is being proposed with peace as its fundamental purpose—to achieve genuine lasting peace!"
"Peace?" Hearing this unfamiliar yet distant word, everyone's eyes showed a dazed look.
Could true peace really exist?
The First Hokage ended the Warring States Era and initiated the age of ninja villages, once considered a symbol of the peaceful era!
Unfortunately, peace was only a fleeting moment. After the death of the First Hokage, war returned in an even fiercer form!
However, Mui was never among those filled with doubt!
He had never once doubted Seiki's power to bring peace!
As he recalled that night twelve years ago, his heart pounded with excitement, overwhelmed by emotion. "A dreamer finds his way only by moonlight; his fate is to be the first to see the dawn... Is this truly the dawn?"
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